Computing cheese-cutter.



No. 823,689. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

G. D. LENDER.

COMPUTING CHEESE CUTTER.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO.18 1906. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 823,689. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

' 0. D. LENDER.

COMPUTING GHEE$E 'OUTIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG, 1B, 1305.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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v the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D LENDER, OF OENTRALIA, ILLlNOlS.

COMPUTING CHEESE-CUTTER- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19-, 1906.

Application filed December 18, 1905. Serial No. 292,312.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OHARLEs D. LENDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Centralia, in the county of Marion and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOomputingOheeseCutters; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use This.invention relates to improvements in computing cheese-cutters.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheese-cutter of thischaracter by means of which the amount of cheese desired by a customermay be quickly and accurately ascertained and cut.

Another object is to provide a cutter of this character having a frameor casing to en- :tirely inclose the same, provision being made wherebysaid casing isreadily opened to operate the device.

A further object is to provide a computing cheese-cutter which will besimple, strong,

and durable in construction, efficient and reliable in operation, andwell adapted to the purpose for which it isdesigned.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofacheese-cutter and cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention.Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base or supporting frame of the cutterQFig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view through a portion of theframe and table, showing the manner of locking the latter againstmovement; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the inner end of the com utingcylinder,showing the manner in whic .the same is turned in one direction by theoperating-shaft and may be. reversed without turning the shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the cabinet o'rcasing, which incloses the apparatus, and 2 denotes a sup- Iiportingframe or base arranged in the cabinet 1. The base or supporting-frame 2preferably consists of an outer annular ring 3,

provided with downwardly-projecting feet 4, Which r'est upon the flooror bottom of the .a socket 6.

casing or cabinet 1. Within the ring 3 of the supporting-frame isarranged a spider, preferably formed of three integrally-formed radialarms 5, at the center of which is formed In the ring 3 at suitableintervals are journaled radially-disposed bearing wheels or rollers 7.

Arranged above the frame 2 and supported thereby is a table or platform'8, on which is adapted to be placed a cheese. The table 8 is providedwith suitable upwardly-projecting blades 9, which enter the cheese whenplaced upon the table to firmly hold the same in place. On the underside of the table 8 is secured a frame comprising an outer annular ringhaving formed thereon an annular rack 10.. The ring is further providedwith integral radially-disposed arms 12, in the center of .which isformed a downwardly-projecting stud 13, which when the table is arrangedon the frame 2 is adapted to project into the socket 6, thus revolublyconnecting said table with the frame.

Journaled in one side of the frame 2 is a radially-projectinghorizontally-disposed shaft 14, on the inner end of which is fixedlyseries of spaced annular lines 19 and longitu-' dinally-disposed lines20 to form the divisionmarks of a computing-scale. On the cylinder isarranged a longitudinal line of figures representing the total price ofvarious sizes or grades of cheese, while in each of the divisions formedby the annular lines opposite the total prices are arranged numeralsrepresenting the values of different pieces to be cut ofi from thecheese, represented by the totalprice at the end of said annulardivision. Supported at its inner end upon the frame 2 and having itsouterend engaging the shaft 14 is a shaft-su porting frame 21, thehorizontal bar of w 'ch extends across the top of the cylinder 18, andto said cross-bar is. secured a longitudinally disposed guide bar 22, onwhich is slidably mounted anindicating finger or pointer 23, whichcurves downwardly and has its lower end lying adjacent to the surface ofthe cylinder. The finger or pointer 23 is provided with a set-screw 24for holding the same in its adjusted position on the guide-bar 22.

On the frame 2, adjacent to the computing mechanism, is formed a bracketin which is secured upwardly-projecting parallel standards 25, in theupper ends of which is j ournaled a shaft 26, to which is secured acutting blade or knife 27. Said blade is provided on its upper end witha bail-shaped handle 28, by means of which it is swung downwardly ontoand through the cheese on the table 8, thus severing atriangularly-shaped piece from the cheese. In the base orsupporting-frame 2 is arranged a suitably-mounted set-screw 29, which isadapted to be screwed into engagement with the table 8 to rigidly holdthe same against rotation while the cheese is being cut. The set-screw29 is preferably provided with a crank-handle or lever 30, by means ofwhich the same is screwed into and out of engagement with the table 8.

The casing or cabinet 1 maybe of any suitable shape and construction,but is here shown and is preferably elliptical in form and has its sidesconstructed of a series of glazed panels through which the contents ofthe case may be observed. The case is preferably formed of twocounterpart sections which are hingedly connected together at theirinner top edges, as shown. One of said sections is secured to the flooror bottom of the cabinet, while the other loosely engages the same,thereby permitting said latter section to be swung upwardly onto thefixed section and affordin access to the cheese and the operatingmechanism within the casing.

In operation the cheese to be placed in the case in the cabinet is firstweighed, after which the weight is multiplied by the sellingprice perpound. The cheese is now placed upon the table 8, and the hand-wheel l7and shaft 14 are revolved until the column of total-price marks comesunder the guide-bar of the pointer or finger 22. The latter is thenshifted on the bar to bring the finger into line with the annularprice-per-pound column opposite such total price. The cutting-blade isnow forced downwardly into the cheese. Assuming that the cheese on thetable 8 weighs eighteen pounds and the selling price should be twentycents per ound, the total price of said cheese would be three dollarsand sixty cents. The pointer or finger will therefore be adjusted to apoint above the three-dollarsandsixtycents mark. With the machine inthis position should a customer desire to purchase a ound of cheese thehandheel shaft 14 an computingcylinder 18 will be turned until thetwenty-cents mark in the three-dollars-and-siXty-cents column is engagedby the pointer 23. While the computing-cylinder has been turned by theshaft 14 the inion 15 on the inner end of the same has been revolvingthe table 8 and the cheese the corresponding distance, so that when thecomputing-cylinder has been. turned. to the proper point the set-screw29 will be tightened to lock said table 8 against further movement,after which the knife is forced into the cheese to sever a piecetherefrom, said piece being of the proper size to represent twenty centsworth from a cheese the total selling price of which is three dollarsand sixty cents. Should a customer desire more than a pound, or twentycents worth, of cheese, the computing-wheel and. the table 8 will beturned to the twenty-cents mark, thus bringing one pound of cheese underthe knife, after wlnch the computingwheel is turned back to thestarting-point and again moved around until the pointer or finger 23engages the iraction-of-a-pound mark desired by the customer, at whichtime the table will be looked, as hereinbeforc described, and the propersize piece of cheese cut off. In order that the computing-wheel may bereversed upon the shaft 14 without turning said shaft backwardly, apawl-andratchet engagement 31 is provided between said cylinder andshaft. Thus the cylinder will be revolved by the shaft when the latteris turned in one direction and will remain idle when the shaft is turnedin the opposite direction or may be reversed on the shaft, as described.

From the foregoing description, taken in comiection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a cheese-cutter of the character described, the combination with asuitable easing adapted to be opened, of a supporting base or framearranged therein, a table or platform revolubly mounted on said frame, apivotally-mounted cutting-blade to coact with said table, mechanism torevolve said table, means to lock the same against movement and acomputing-cylinder adapted to be turned to operate in one direction bythe movement of said table-revolving mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a cheese-cutter of the character described, the combination with asuitable casing having a hinged swin ing section, of a su ortin -fran1earran ed in said casing, a refill revo ubly mounted on said frame,antifriction-rollers to support said table, an annular rack arranged 011the under side of the latter, a shaft journaled in saidsupportingfriction-rollers to support said table, an an nular rackarranged onthe under side of the latter, a shaft journaled in saidsupportingframe, a spur-gear lEinion fixed on said shaft to engage saidrac a hand-wheel fixed on the opposite end of said shaft, acomputingcylinder loosely mounted on the shaft, a pawl-and-ratchetengagement between said shaft and cylinder whereby the latter is turnedby the shaft in one direction, an indieating-finger adjustably mountedabove said cylinder to coact therewith, an upright frame arranged onsa1d supporting-frame, a cuttingblade pivotally mounted in said frame, abail-shaped handle connected to said blade, and a set-screw arranged insaid su ortin frame to engage and hold said ta lfie, su stantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES n. LENDER.

' Witnesses:

BELLA M. JAMES, FRANK F. NOLEMAN.

